At a 141 verses, Section 88 is the longest in the Doctrine and Covenants. So I'm sorry this comment is so long. It is one of the most important sections though and I hope you take the time to read it and also read this and I think you'll see why. I'll do part today and part tomorrow.
There are a number of saints in Missouri who are critical of the prophet and other leaders of the church. When Joseph sent this revelation to W. W. Phelps in Missouri, he sent it saying the revelation was evidence of God's approval and acceptance of those in Kirtland. He also sent it as an olive branch of peace. The revelation is undoubtedly proof of God's approval of Joseph as it contains some of the most sublime and revealing doctrine in all the revelations.
We first learn about the Holy Spirit of Promise. The Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Ghost placing his stamp of approval upon every ordinance performed in the church. It is the promise and assurance that the blessings associated with the ordinances will be received IF the proper authority is used in performing the ordinance and the individual receiving the ordinance is worthy and righteous.
Next we learn the four functions of the Light of Christ. The first is, the Light of Christ is the creative power by which all things are created. This gives to me the assurance that there is purpose to all creation, that nothing exists by chance, that there is a God who is in control of the universe. The second function is to enlighten, to give knowledge, and to give us our conscience so that we have a basic understanding of right and wrong, good and evil. The third function is to give life to all things. The Light of Christ is the power that sustains life. Science has never been able to explain why something lives, only that there is some mysterious energy that sustains everything. And the fourth function of the Light of Christ is governing, it is the power by which all things in the universe are governed. We could have a lengthy and deep discussion on that this all implies, but there is so much more in this section.
The next part of Section 88 talks about the resurrection. It is here that we learn that the body and the spirit are the soul of man. We are the only church that believes that we will have a physical body after this life, and yet it is in all the scriptures. In the Old Testament, Job states that though his body will be destroyed, "yet in my flesh will I see God." In Luke 22, the resurrected Christ had the apostles feel his hands and feet, he ate with them, all to prove he wasn't a spirit only, and then did the same with the Nephites in the third Nephi.
To me, one of the most important things we learn in this section about the resurrection also makes the most sense to me. First, there is a sequence to the resurrection of mankind. Everyone will be resurrected, but not in the same order. There is the resurrection of the just and the resurrection of the unjust. The sequence is, first those who are celestial in nature will be resurrected, then those who are terrestial, those who are telestial, and lastly those who will be cast into outer darkness. This is all interesting, but the most important thing taught about this is whichever of these natures we are, it is because that is the level of growth we have ultimately achieved. In other words, the higher the law that we choose to live by, the higher the spiritual achievement. We cannot change our nature. We are who we are; we become what we choose to become. So the Lord says if we abide by the law of the celestial kingdom, we become able to abide a celestial glory, and we receive a celestial body. Those who choose less in life, become less, receive a body and lower glory because they have abided by a lower glory. This is true of everything. Those who sacrifice to develop a talent, achieve more and become better at that talent than others who do not. People who choose to gain more education and knowledge are different from those who choose not to be educated. In life, we become what we choose to become by the choices we make and the effort we put forth to become that person.
Everyone has the spiritual potential to become a celestial person. The level of glory we obtain after this life will be the result of the laws we choose to abide by. Those who live by celestial principles become "sanctified from all unrighteousness" through the atonement and are "prepared for celestial glory." Those who can't abide by celestial principles have to settle for something less because they have grown less. To me this makes sense. It would irritate me to no end for someone to come along who never put forth the effort to practice and put in the hours I did at the piano and be able to play and teach at the level I do. It wouldn't be fair. Those who end up with less, do so because, "they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
All of this is based on law. There are principles which have always existed. When we choose to live by those principles, there are natural outcomes. It is when we try to alter those principles and "become a law unto ourselves" that we inhibit our growth, justify our sins or misdeeds, and disqualify ourselves from ultimate benefits of the atonement and the promised sanctification.
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